The latest great product from the wondrous world of Etsy is this completely cool Iron Man sticker for Apple MacBooks. The sticker makes the iconic Apple logo look like it’s one of Iron Man’s repulsor rays. That’s so awesome!!! It makes me want my dream MacBook (you know, the one with an Intel i5 processor) even more.
[Updated with video!] BioWare has unveiled new information on a brand new character that will debut in the Dragon Age: Origins Awakening expansion pack (due out in March!). His name is Anders and he’s an apostate (illegal mage). A flippant fellow, Anders seems to heavy a healthy hate for blood mages and the chantry. My initial thought is that he’s Alistair with magic, but I’m sure there’s more to him than that. I can’t wait to learn more about him!
Let me know what you think of Anders when you have a moment.
One of the big complaints on Google’s Nexus One phone is that it didn’t integrate multitouch functionality. A firmware update — available on a rolling basis this week — fixes that issue. In addition to new features in Google Maps and the addition of Google Goggles, this update adds pinch-to-zoom functionality in Maps, the web browser, and the photo gallery.
*sigh* I’m trying to be patient because I want an Android 2.1 phone with a good keyboard…but the Nexus One is so tempting!
Coming this Thursday on Sony’s PlayStation Network is Fret Nice from Tecmo, a cute platformer that’s played with a guitar controller. The game is so novel that it deserves its own post (complete with video!). Here’s what Tecmo producer Ray Murakawa had to say about the game’s origins:
The game actually started as a degree thesis project and as that aimed at looking into the concept of adding an unorthodox game controller into an ordinary game genre such as the 2D platformer to see what benefits could be drawn from the new way of controlling the game. Although the game has since evolved to being not so much about the academic side of things, the guitar controller and what it can be used for in its new context has always been the essence of Fret Nice’s design.
I’m probably going to download it this week simply because it’s cool and different. Any of you interested?
It has been 28 days since Google launched the Nexus One phone and its Google.com/phone web site. Some aspects of Google’s foray into consumer electronics went smoothly. Some didn’t. I caught up with a company representative to get some insights on the launch and Google’s mobile-phone future.
It has been 28 days since Google launched the Nexus One phone and its Google.com/phone web site. Some aspects of Google’s foray into consumer electronics went smoothly. Some didn’t. I caught up with a company representative to get some insights on the launch and Google’s mobile-phone future. Some of the answers were insightful and some were the standard PR line. Check it out and see for yourself!
Raymond Padilla: Considering that the Nexus One was Google’s first attempt at selling consumer electronics, what were some of the things the company did right? What were some things the company could have done better?
Google: Because we just launched the Nexus One four weeks ago, I think it’s too early to comment on these questions.
RP: A lot of journalists are fixated on iPhone killers and are unable to talk about the Nexus One without comparing it to the iPhone. To me, the bigger story is Google.com/phone. Isn’t that the bigger deal?
Google: We do view our new consumer web store as a significant announcement. With the Nexus One and future devices, our hope is to change the way consumers purchase a mobile phone. The goal of Google’s new consumer channel is to provide an efficient way to connect Google’s online users with selected Android phones from partners. We want to make the overall user experience simple: a simple purchasing process, simple service plans from operators, and simple and worry free delivery and start-up.
RP: Some of my readers don’t see how Google.com/phone is changing anything. I see it as a work in progress with the potential to change the market. How is Google’s effort to sell phones directly to customers different than buying an unlocked phone off of Amazon.com, for example?
Google: Working with device manufacturers and operators worldwide, our vision for this new program is to give customers more choice and simplicity when it comes to purchasing their mobile phones by matching hardware preference to service options. Our ultimate goal is to give the consumer the opportunity to buy the phone of his/her choice (as more phones beyond the Nexus One become available) and choose an operator which best meets his/her needs. This is a new model in the US, and we hope it simplifies the buying process for mobile devices moving forward.
RP: What about the disadvantage of not being able to play with a phone at a store. Some people feel that the Amazon Kindle would have been more successful if more consumers could see what it could do first hand. The Nexus One is currently in a similar boat. Doesn’t it take a leap of faith to buy a $529 product without getting to play with it?
Google: We are introducing a new consumer purchasing model with the Nexus One. It will only be available through our Google-hosted web store initially, and we have included tools in this online store to enable users to take virtual tours of the hardware and software elements of Nexus One.
RP: In a perfect world, what will Google.com/phone have to offer one year from now? Would 25 phones on all four major American carriers be a conservative or aggressive estimate?
Google: The Nexus One is just the beginning, our plan is to:
RP: Some customers need someone to talk to for customer service. Are Google’s support forums for the Nexus One enough?
Google: Our support site can be found at google.com/phone/support, which has pointers to our help center, where there is lots of troubleshooting information. HTC provides telephone support for device troubleshooting and warranty, repairs, and returns. Google also offers self-help through our help center, user-to-user help through forums, and email support to customers who are unable to find answers to their questions online. T-Mobile USA also fields calls regarding their service (including service billing inquiries).
We work quickly to solve any customer support issues as they come up, and we are trying to be as open and transparent as possible through our online customer help forums. We’ll continue to address all issues in as timely of a manner as possible, and we’re flexible and prepared to make changes to our processes and tools, as necessary, for an optimal customer support experience.
Please check out this Trauma Team walkthrough, which goes over the orthopedic procedures in this upcoming Nintendo Wii game. I wish this doctor was around when I first hurt my knee. Ha! Here’s a detailed description from Atlus:
This latest video follows the exploits of orthopedic surgeon Hank Freebird, tasked with repairing the various bones and joints that make up the human skeletal system. In addition to the new entry in the video walkthrough series, the publisher also confirmed that the game’s release date would be held back for further observation, now slated to release on May 18th.
Not only is the Phoenix Sun’s Steve Nash one of the best NBA point guards of all time, he’s also skilled at the fine art of pop-culture parodies. In this movie, Nash spoofs Avatar during a flight on the team airplane. The short is called Bar’bo’sa, which pokes fun at the Na’vi race and Nash’s teammate Leandro Barbosa. It’s cute, goofy, and fun…and a lot more useful and creative than bringing a gun to the locker room. Check it out!
PlayStation 3 owners in Japan will get to choose between two 500GB external hard drives from Buffalo to use with the PS3’s upcoming DVR software. According to Andriasang:
PC hardware maker Buffalo is about to take new steps in official PlayStation licensing. The company announced today two external hard drives that have been granted official recognition from Sony. According to Buffalo, this is the first time Sony has granted licensing to hard drive peripherals, a move that comes in anticipation of March’s release of PS3’s “Torne” digital video recorder kit.
Although Torne is a huge step towards my dream console, I’m not sold on the USB 2.0 connection these hard drives will use. That’s more than enough bandwidth for SD recordings, but I’d worry about HD recordings. The likely scenario is the Torne will use the PS3’s considerable power for some aggressive compression. The other choice is leaving the data relatively uncompressed, in which case I’d worry about hiccups in the connection.
Are you ladies and gents interested in using your PS3 as a DVR?
Loads of gamers have been wondering if Square Enix would meet its goal of shipping Final Fantasy XIII
This is a three disc game, but it only counts as one disc against your rental plan.
So there you have it! If you’re planning to play the game on Xbox 360 then expect at least two disc-swapping interruptions.
Here’s a teaser for the Harry Potter theme park opening at Universal Studios Orlando this Spring. The full commercial will air during the Super Bowl. As a Harry Potter nerd, I definitely want to make a pilgrimage to the park. Check out the video and let me know if you’re up for a road trip!
